LONG BEACH – Nick Bierbrodt and Ryan Claypool combined to throw six scoreless innings to lead the Long Beach Armada to a 5-2 victory over the Chinese national team Sunday evening at Blair Field.

The Armada were able to bounce back from a sloppy 8-6 loss on Saturday to split the two-game series.

Bierbrodt, the Arizona Diamondbacks No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 supplemental draft, was nothing short of dominant.

He allowed just a single over the first three innings, while striking out five. The lanky left-hander fanned five of the last six batters he faced.

Claypool went the next three innings and struck out four, allowing just two hits for Long Beach.

Kris Kasarijian singled and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ryan Lehr to give the Armada a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Marland Williams then reached base on an error and scored on an RBI single by Tony Torcato.

Steve Moss’ two-run single in the eighth inning highlighted a three-run rally that gave Long Beach a 5-0 lead.

Feng Fei singled in two runs in the top of the ninth inning for China. Fei had five RBIs in the series, including a bases-loaded triple in the first inning on Saturday.

Andrew Layfield threw two scoreless innings for the Armada, while Brandon Buxbaum pitched the ninth inning and allowed the two China runs.

Wang Nan was impressive on the mound for China. The lefty went seven innings and allowed just two runs and struck out seven Long Beach batters.

“I was very happy with the effort tonight,” Armada coach Steve Yeager said.

“The pitching was outstanding and our defense was much better.”

Former Dodger Jim Lefebvre, who manages the Chinese team, said the experience was overwhelming for his players.

“We want to thank everyone who made our guys feel at home,” he said. “The games were good and competitive and the players are very appreciative of the efforts to help those affected back home.”

The Armada raised more than $6,000 that will directly aid those affected by the earthquake in China.

Yeager has to cut his roster from 34 to 22 by today, and then the Armada start the season Thursday at St. George (Utah).

“Last night the guys seemed tight and made a lot of mistakes, but I told them today to just go out and relax and they played much better,” Yeager said.

The Armada’s home-opener will be June 13, when the Yuma Scorpions arrive for a three-game series.

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